Culotte



W. GURIAN Nov. 116, 1937.

GULOTTE Filed Aug. 28, 1936 n Rm l mu m m N% ISM 1 a W m Patented Nov. 16, 1937 NITED STATES rATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a convertible culotte skirt.

The invention has for an object the construction of an article as mentioned which is characterized by the fact that it is provided with fastener elements extending from the crotch to the ends of the leg portions whereby the leg portions may be joined together. Still further the invention proposes to arrange the said fasteners along the front portion of the culotte skirt so that when they are joined, from the front, the garment has the appearance of a skirt. Another one of the objects of this invention is to provide aplurality of pleats arranged to cover the fastening elements so that they are normally hid from view.

Still further the invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of folds in the material extending longitudinally from the crotch to the ends of the leg portions so that thesefolds are normally hid from view but are capable of opening when required to increase the body of the culotte skirt. 7

Still further the invention contemplates the provision of means associated with the folds mentioned in the previous paragraph by which they may be closed when desired.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:---

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a culott skirt constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom of the lower portion of a convertible culotte skirt constructed according to a modification of this invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detailedview of a portion of Fig. 4 showing in particular one of the holding elements by which the folds may be held closed.

The convertible culotte skirt, according to this invention, comprises material H1 in the form of a culotte skirt and provided withfasteners II for securing the leg portions Ill and ll] thereof together from the crotch 10 to the free ends I 0 5 of the leg portions. These fasteners H are arranged between folds l2 formed in the material of the leg portions and extending from the crotch to the ends of the leg portions.

More specifically, the fasteners comprise strips I3 of flexible material secured at one of their edges by stitches M to the folds, and at their other edges being provided with interengageable hook elements Il These hook elements are of the type which may be interengaged by a control slide ll mounted thereon.

The material of the leg portions below the crotch are formed with a plurality'of folds l6 which are normally maintained in position by reason of being so pressed. These folds cannot be seen from the front or the back of the culotte' skirt, and they permit the leg portions to open when required. These folds normally serve to make the leg portions relatively narrow when the culotte is worn as trousers, but when the leg portions are secured together they open to give sufficient room for walking. Furthermore, these folds l6 assist in normally concealing the fasteners ll.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modification of the invention has been disclosed in which a plurality of holding elements iii are associated with the various folds l6 and are adapted to hold these folds together when desired. More specifically, each of the holding elements l8 comprises a string or cord which is attached at one end I8 on the inner face of the culotte skirt. Adjacent each of the strings or cords [8 there is an eyelet l9 mounted in the material of the culotte skirt through which the cord l8 may be passed to the exterior. When the cords are in their exterior position they may be tied together to close the folds. When the strings l8 are not in use they may be drawn back through the eyelets l9 so that they are not viewable from the exterior of the garment. When the folds are closed with the strings l8 the leg width of the culotte skirt may be changed as desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 7

Having thus described. my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A convertible culotte skirt, comprising material in the form of a culotte. skirt having a body wide flowing leg portions, and a crotch portion,

and a fastener for securing the leg portions thereof together from the crotch to the free ends thereof, said fasteners comprising flange strips of material secured upon the leg portions and extending from the crotch to the ends of the leg portions, andengageable hooks on said strips of material, said strips of material being secured within folds formed in the leg portions, and a plurality of additional folds in the material of the leg portions extending from the crotch to the ends thereof, means for holding said folds closed as desired, including strings secured upon the material of the culotte skirt along the folds and adapted to be tied together.

2. A convertible culotte skirt, comprising material in the form of a culotte skirt having a body, wide flowing leg portions, and a crotch portion, and a fastener for securing the leg portions thereof together from the crotch to the free ends thereof, said fasteners comprising flange strips of material secured upon the leg portions and extending from the crotch to the ends of the leg portions, and engageable hooks on said strips of material, said strips of material being secured within folds formed in the leg portions, and a plurality of additional folds in the material of the leg portions extending from the crotch to the ends thereof, means for holding said folds closed as desired, including strings secured upon the material of the culotte skirt along the folds and adapted to be tied together, said strings being secured at one of their ends upon the inner faces of the material of the culotte skirt, and an eyelet adjacent each string through which the string may be passed so that it is upon the outer side, and ready to be tied with an adjacent string.

3. A garment of the kind described comprising material in the form of a culotte skirt, having a body, wide flowing leg portions, and crotch portion, detachable fastening elements mounted on the inner sides of said leg portions and adapted to be connected together, whereby the garment may be Worn either as a skirt or a pair of trousers, pleats formed on each leg in front of and in back of each of said fasteners and extending from the crotch downwardly, said folds concealing the fastening means.

WILLIAM GURIAN. 

